# NTSB ATL07LA064: Beech BE-90, N90NM, Augusta, GA, March 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2007, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Augusta, GA - Coordinates: 33.36861, -81.95861 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3686&lon=-81.9586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA064 ## Probable cause A total failure of the electrical system for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the pilot's inability to ensure that the landing gear was down and locked. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined - electrical system - failure,total - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - activated ## Analysis According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff the left "generator light" on the annunciation panel illuminated. He attempted a reset but was unsuccessful. Shortly after that the right generator and battery failed. As the flight progressed, various instruments failed, including radio and navigational instruments. The pilot attempted to manually extend the landing gear but was unable to verify that the gear was down and locked. With the power out the landing gear position lights in the cockpit would not illuminate. Upon landing the nose gear remained extended, but both main gears collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that both the left and right generators had failed with both generators exhibiting thermal damage. No further examination was performed. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2007, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-90, N90NM, registered to J.A. Air LLC, and operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight, collapsed the left and right main landing gears during landing, at Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field (AGS), in Augusta, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 25, 2007, about 1300. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from PDK, the left "generator light" on the annunciation panel illuminated. He attempted a reset but was unsuccessful. Shortly after that, the right generator and battery failed, possibly from a massive electrical short. As the flight progressed, various instruments failed, including radio and navigational instruments. The pilot diverted to AGS, and attempted to manually lower the landing gear into the down and locked position, but was only able to get the gear to partially extend. He had no way of verifying if the gear was down and locked. With the power out the landing gear position lights in the cockpit would not illuminate. The pilot warned the passengers that he was going to do a gear-up landing. Upon landing the nose gear stayed extended, but both main gears collapsed. The pilot stated that he pulled all the breakers, shut off the fuel, and feathered the props before touching down. On touchdown, the airplane slid about 3,000 feet before coming to a stop. He and the passengers egressed without injury. Damage to the airplane consisted of belly skin and the left wing rear spar. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that the airplane had experienced a total electrical failure. Both the left and right generators had failed with both generators exhibiting thermal damage. No further examination was performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90NM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90NM-2013-02-07), registration cancelled 2013-02-07, S/N LJ-404, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-90 - Registry model: [Beech B90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b90) (registry code 1152912) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ404 - Airframe hours: 9183.1 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Dennis B. Taylor - Registered owner: J A Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 1, 2006, 44.6 hours before - Departed: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Destination: AGS, Augusta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KAGS, Augusta Regional Airport, runway 17, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 15,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 15,350 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: AGS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070325008219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070325008219A), Mar 25, 2007: Beech B90, Augusta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) This aircraft departed pdk in atlanta, GA enroute to hilton head (hxd) on an instrument flight rules clearance. The aircraft was in visual conditions the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.